Sunday, 17 April 2011

First Post...

A 7 hr journey from Penrith, past Glasgow, stopping off at The Green Welly and into the highlands found ourselves in the wild wilderness of Ardnamurchan. No radio signals or phone signal. A place where the weather had twisted the shape of this once volcanic land to create ancient birch and oak woodlands that stand contorted and worn against the might of the wind. We passed twisted tree after twisted tree of lush forest that clung to the steep rocky slope to one side of the road and the sea lock with its rocky outcrops crops on the other as Cain drove the single road that led us to the cottage.

The message Youtube showed when we tried to upload our first piece of HD video.

The ghosts of which you never see become the ghosts of which were never there become the legends that were never told. Sweet dreams anyway.

Cain's shadow and the fireplace, glenmore cottage. Creeeeppy

Rachael is mainly focussing on macro photography and these are some of her first pictures.

Caterpillar vs fly

Fox Moth caterpillar Macrothylacia rubi

Crab.

Zippy the Red Deer munching some grass for it's lunch.

This afternoon we visited the Ardnamurchan Natural History Centre to meet John Polak for some advice on where to find wildlife on the Peninsula, and for a walk round the centres interactive exhibition. We were privileged to see the first Grey Heron egg of the season, thanks to a live camera link.

After some lunch we headed down to the RSPB's Glenborrodale reserve, a large ancient oak woodland, we found it to be blanketed by ticks, and other insects, so without surprise we found a Slow Worm and a Common Lizard.

Once we returned to the cottage Michael Macgregor came to visit, he further enriched our knowledge of the peninsula, and allowed us to set up a hide to photograph and film the countless Grey Herons which come to feed on the salt-marsh. Normally a simple task, but not today, in order to complete our set goals we have to film key points of our expedition, which meant, in order to set up this hide it took 3 people, 2 cameras, and 2 tripods, all positioned at different locations. Once up, we felt like professionals, although Cain was slightly un-easy due to the increasing threat of a herd of Highland Cattle, who were very curious, licking the guide ropes at one point.

We aim to keep this blog updated everyday for at least this week, we hope you enjoy it.